Elementary school was a time of freedom, of friendships, and week-long relationships; where the only worry in the world was missing five minutes of recess. Anna McCabe Elementary School also known as “Animal Cage”, was where I spent the early days of my education. I was a bit of a “tom-boy”. The type who wore etnie skater shoes and hated brushing her hair on picture day. When it came to grades, I always did very well. I was the type of student who would spend insane amounts of time on everything, whether it be art projects, writing assignments, stories or a simple vocabulary quiz! I was the definition of a perfectionist. I would pay far too much attention to the most minor details and worry too much about the small things. As the years went on and I grew older, I carried with me this plague of perfectionism. Eventually as I made my way into middle school, this impacted me in a way I did not expect. As early as seventh grade, I was staying up until one or two in the morning finishing last minute projects and essays. This would leave me drained the next day, only to continue the arduous process the following night. Now, as I enter college, I have made it one of my major goals to not stress so much on the small things and to be efficient. Although I can quite clearly recall the day that I received my first 70 on a test. I was devastated. My heart had shattered into a million pieces and I struggled to fight back the tears that built up like a damn in my eyes, ready to overflow. I ran to the bathroom and cried for about ten minutes. Little did I know back then, as a small, fragile child, that my entire life thereafter would be filled with plenty more failures. Referring back to Mindset, I had two choices. I could either let this defeat drag me down like an anchor, or I could take it with a pinch of salt and strive to do better the next time. So, with each failure, I gained experience, knowledge and a lesson learned. Standing there by my side in my fifth grade was my teacher, Mrs. Lurgio. She was like the real life version of Mrs. Frizzle in The Magic School Bus. She had a dying passion for robotics, legos, monarch butterflies, and would often go clogging with her family. Hmm...not your average teacher. Despite her craziness, she always had faith in me and made it known that she was there if at any time I needed help. Every art project of mine would leave her in awe. Every written story would leave her proud. And as that shy, unsure fifth grade girl, this meant the world to me. Having a teacher as influential and supportive as her truly helped me at the time and in the long run. She taught me patience, control, a hard work ethic and to delve deep into anything I had a passion for. Teachers like Mrs. Lurgio are what inspire students to stay motivated, to put effort into their education and get the most out of it. For that, I am forever grateful.
In elementary school, typically we would remain with the same group of peers for an entire year, as we traveled from class to class in the same hallway. It was great to grow so close to everyone but looking back, I realized how sheltered and minuscule my world used to be. Later on in middle school, high school and college the barrier that protected me from the real world gradually began to thin. Now as I sit here typing this, I realize that I am a college student who has been forced from the comfort zone that once cushioned her everyday life. I have met so many incredible people and been introduced to new experiences and challenges. Peering back to those days makes me realize how small I was in the world, like an ant on a busy sidewalk. Life has opened truly up for me and although now, as a freshman, I feel like that ant again, I can stroll this campus of URI knowing that the world is waiting for me, knowing that I am ready.
In elementary school, typically we would remain with the same group of peers for an entire year, as we traveled from class to class in the same hallway. It was great to grow so close to everyone but looking back, I realized how sheltered and minuscule my world used to be. Later on in middle school, high school and college the barrier that protected me from the real world gradually began to thin. Now as I sit here typing this, I realize that I am a college student who has been forced from the comfort zone that once cushioned her everyday life. I have met so many incredible people and been introduced to new experiences and challenges. Peering back to those days makes me realize how small I was in the world, like an ant on a busy sidewalk. Life has opened truly up for me and although now, as a freshman, I feel like that ant again, I can stroll this campus of URI knowing that the world is waiting for me, knowing that I am ready.